Greipel wins Vuelta's Puertollano sprint, Valverde keeps gold

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Germany's André Greipel (Columbia-HTC) won his third stage in the Vuelta a España today in Puertollano, Spain. He out-sprinted France's William Bonnet (Bbox Bouygues Telecom) and Italy's Daniele Bennati (Liquigas).

"There were a lot of corners in the finale, but my teammates did really good job to keep me out of the dangerous points," said Greipel.

New Zealand's Julian Dean (Garmin-Slipstream) crashed on the right side of the road with 2.8 kilometres to go. Brit Roger Hammond (Cervélo TestTeam) and Belgian Wouter Weylandt (Quick Step) were also involved in the crash.

Greipel's Columbia team controlled the race for most of the final kilometres. Liquigas pulled Bennati to the front for the final left corner at 400 metres to race, where he started his sprint.

He failed to hold the lead to the line and Greipel came around his right for the win. Bonnet placed second, on Greipel's right.

Greipel's first stage in this year's Vuelta came two weeks ago, in Liège, Belgium. He took the race leader's gold jersey after his second stage win in Vinaros, Spain.

He wore the leader's jersey for two days, and now holds the green sprints jersey.

Spaniard Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne) kept the race leader's gold jersey he took eight days ago on the mountain stage to Xorret del Catí. He leads the race by 31 seconds over Gesink, 1:10 over Samuel Sánchez (Euskaltel-Euskadi), 1:28 over Ivan Basso (Liquigas), 1:51 over Cadel Evans (Silence-Lotto) and 1:54 over Ezequiel Mosquera (Xacobeo Galicia).

Ballan's last rainbow day

All 154 riders that finished yesterday's stage started today's stage, including World Champion Alessandro Ballan (Lampre-NGC). It was his last day to wear the rainbow jersey he won at the 2008 championships in Varese, Italy. He will travel home after the stage to prepare for his title defense in Mendrisio, Switzerland, next Sunday.

The 170.3-kilometre stage started from yesterday's finish city of Córdoba. It featured two category three climbs, the Alto de los Villares and the Puerto de la Chimorra, in the first 50 kilometres.

Frenchman David Moncoutié (Cofidis) took first over the top of the Villares, kilometre 6.8. He added six points to an already untouchable mountain classification lead.

Rosendo goes solo

Spaniard Jesús Rosendo (Andalucía-Cajasur) escaped at kilometre eight, after the top of the Villares. He gained over seven minutes after 30 kilometres of racing.

The overall favourites were happy to let Rosendo, 27, ride free. He started the day in 108th place, 1:59 behind Valverde.

Rosendo gained time over the team Columbia-led group by the top of the Puerto de la Chimorra, kilometre 46.8. Moncoutié led the main group over the climb 12:02 later.

Columbia cut Rosendo's advantage in half by the intermediate sprint in Pedroche, kilometre 81. Rosendo only had three minutes with 40 kilometres to go, and two minutes at 30 kilometres remaining.

Team Milram helped Columbia reduce Rosendo's advantage and ensured the possibility of a sprint finish.

With 20 kilometres left, Rosendo was waving goodbye to the television camera. Colombia-HTC led the group, only 48 seconds behind him.

Rosendo's escape was over with 18.2km to race, after 144.1 kilometres away. Quick Step (for Wouter Weylandt) moved to the front to help the pace work of Milram (Ciolek) and Columbia-HTC (Greipel).

Vacansoleil put two men on the front of the group with 10 kilometres to race. It worked for sprinter and stage six winner, Borut Bozic.

Columbia re-gained the lead after Greipel won the intermediate sprint in Almodovar del Campo. It had five men on the front with seven kilometres to go, and green jersey Greipel sat in eighth position. Bbox Bouygues Telecom and Liquigas fought their way into the front to position their sprinters, Bonnet and Bennati.

The front was the safest spot through the city streets of Puertollano. Dean squeezed down the right side, but hit spectator too far into the street. Three riders crashed with him, Weylandt, Hammond and a team Astana rider.

Talavera de la Reina

The three-week race continues tomorrow with a flat, 193.6-kilometre stage to Talavera de la Reina. It lacks climbs, but comes on the eve of three decisive days. The riders face two medium-mountain stages, Ávila and La Granja Real Fábrica de Cristales, and a time trial stage on Saturday in Toledo.

The race will end on Sunday, September 20 in Madrid.